layed our way into a really big game in November, and thats what you hope to do.THE TAKEAWAYOregon: The Du

EUGENE, Ore. -- This much is clear: Oregons slide this season can no longer be looked at as a mere stumble.With a four-game losing streak, the Ducks are in a hole that has put an 11-year run in the postseason in distinct jeopardy. The Ducks are 2-4 overall and sit at the bottom of the Pac-12 North.Some fans are calling for head coach Mark Helfrich to be fired. Others are questioning the wisdom of new assistant Brady Hokes defensive changes, and even the use of graduate transfers at quarterback for the past two seasons rather than fostering long-term player development.Whatever the reason, Oregons slide is a reminder of how hard it is to get good. And stay good.When Helfrich took the job at the start of 2013, he had the daunting job of replacing coach Chip Kelly, who orchestrated Oregons hyperdrive spread-option offense and led the Ducks to their first national championship game.Then he had the daunting task of replacing Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota. Oregon lured a pair of graduate transfers, first Vernon Adams and then this year Dakota Prukop. Adams struggled with injury his lone season with the Ducks, and Prukop lost the starting job after five starts this season to freshman Justin Herbert.Helfrich led the Ducks to the first College Football Playoff championship game just two seasons ago. But the cracks started showing last year when the Ducks went 9-4, their first season with fewer than 10 wins since 2007. Losses to Michigan State, then at home to Utah and Washington State pushed Oregon out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2009.The ultimate embarrassment came in the Alamo Bowl, when the Ducks surrendered a 31-0 lead and TCU staged the biggest comeback in bowl history to win 47-41 in triple overtime.This season the shortfalls have been amplified. Heres a look at whats going on for Oregon on both sides of the ball:OFFENSE: As demonstrated by the Ducks 70-21 loss to No. 5 Washington last weekend, Oregons once-dominant high-speed offense appears to have lost a step.The Ducks led the Pac-12 in total offense last season with an average of 538.2 yards a game. They also led the league in rushing offense with an average of 279.9 yards a game. They averaged a conference-best 43 points a game.Oregon still leads the league in rushing with an average of 257.8 yards a game, but in scoring theyve dropped to sixth with an average of 36.8 points per game. Total offense has dropped to 494.8 yards a game, fourth in the league.Oregon made a big change last weeked at quarterback, replacing Prukop with Herbert. The first true freshman to start for the Ducks since 1983, Herbert threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to the Huskies.Helfrich said after the game that the Ducks would be staying with Herbert.Another issue to consider: Running back Royce Freeman was absent for half of the game against Washington, and the reason is unclear because Oregon doesnt discuss injuries. He also missed part of Oregons loss at Nebraska and the loss to Colorado the following week.DEFENSE: The struggles of last season have been amplified as Hoke has tried to install a new defensive scheme -- no easy task.Oregon ranked last in scoring defense last season, allowing 37.5 points a game, and in total defense, with 485.5 yards allowed a game. The Ducks hired Hoke, the former Michigan coach, as defensive coordinator. Hes tried to transition the defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme.The results so far have been pretty dismal. Oregon is ranked 126th out of 128 FBS schools in total defense, allowing just over 522 yards a game. The Ducks are 125th in scoring defense, allowing 41.8 points.Athletic director Rob Mullens spoke this week to Duck Insider, a sports radio show produced in part by Oregon, and said hes standing by the coaches.Were six games into the season and not where anyone wants to be, but there still is an opportunity to turn this a little bit and start to see some positive results, Mullens said. As I talk to Mark, they go back to work and get back in it. We have a wonderful group of student-athletes and we need to do everything we can to support the coaches and the student-athletes, especially the seniors as they go this last go-round.Oregon has a bye this week to work through some of its issues.Pat LaFontaine Jersey .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Adam Pelech Jersey . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. http://www.islanderssale.com/authentic-brock-nelson-islanders-jersey/ . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. Ryan Pulock Islanders Jersey . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Jordan Eberle Islanders Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday.LOS ANGELES -- Southern California coach Clay Helton was afraid his team might look past struggling Oregon toward next weeks marquee matchup against College Football Playoff contender Washington.Fortunately for Helton, there were no such issues as Ronald Jones tied a school single-game record with four rushing touchdowns and the Trojans demolished Oregon 45-20 on Saturday.Now yall can ask all the UDub questions you want, USC safety Chris Hawkins said.Sam Darnold had 309 yards passing and two touchdowns with one interception, and Deontay Burnett had seven receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown to help propel USC (6-3, 5-2 Pac-12) to its first five-game winning streak since 2013.After rushing for a career-high 223 yards in USCs win over California, Jones again feasted on one of the worst rushing defenses in college football. The sophomore exploded for a 66-yard touchdown run on the third play of the second half before picking up a fourth score early in the fourth quarter to match a mark last accomplished by LenDale White in 2005. Jones finished with 171 yards rushing on 20 carries.I hold my breath every time he touches it because I know there is a chance he can go all the way, Helton said. Between himself and a very effective offensive line, they are doing some special things right now.Freshman quarterback Justin Herbert, who tied school single-game records for touchdown passes and passing yards in his two previous starts, threw for 162 yards and one touchdown as Oregon (3-6, 1-5) was assured its first losing record in conference play since 2006. Pharaoh Brown caught a touchdown, while Charles Nelson had a touchdown run.USC jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring on each of its first three possessions. After settling for a 35-yard field goal by Matt Boermeester on the opening drive, Jones ripped through the middle of the Oregon defense on a 23-yard touchdown run.Jones second touchdown run was even more spectacular, bouncing outside for a 3-yard score after spinning free from two Oregon defensive linemen who immediately met him behind the line of scrimmage.The Oregon defense then responded by forcing punts on USCs next three possessions, benefitting from several dropped passes and penalties by the Trojans. But Oregons offense was unable to mount a similarr resurgence, aside from a one-play touchdown drive after a short USC punt.ddddddddddddNelson took an end around 25 yards into the end zone with 15 seconds left in the first quarter, but Aidan Schneider missed the extra point.Our guys rallied, but just didnt seize enough moments there early, Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said. As soon as you plugged one hole in the dike, another one opened up. Those guys are talented enough to make you pay for it.Oregon went three-and-out on four of eight possessions in the first half, unable to consistently block the aggressive USC defense and gaining just 125 yards. The Ducks finished with just 85 yards rushing in the game, with Royce Freeman running for 38 yards.Dakota Prukop rushed for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to extend Oregons streak of games with at least 20 points to 39, the longest active mark in the FBS.Burnett caught four passes for 42 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown, on USCs last drive of the half to extend the lead to 24-6. Tight end Taylor McNamara added a touchdown reception in the third quarter.Helton did offer a brief initial scouting report on the Huskies, praising sophomore quarterback Jake Browning and coach Chris Petersen.It ought to be a lot of fun, Helton said. We played our way into a really big game in November, and thats what you hope to do.THE TAKEAWAYOregon: The Ducks streak of 11 straight bowl games is all but over. Oregon now needs to win its final three games to reach the six-win mark, but winning one game against resurgent Stanford, Pac-12 South challenger Utah or improving Oregon State would be a big ask of this flawed team.USC: The Trojans are talented but temperamental. No one can doubt USCs athleticism across the board, but there are too many stretches where the offensive line misses blocks or the receivers drop passes. It will require a near-perfect performance to win in Seattle against a legitimate College Football Playoff contender next week.UP NEXTOregon: Hosts Stanford in a diminished edition of what had annually been the Pac-12 game of the year since the conference expanded in 2011.USC: Travels to face Washington in what might be the Pac-12 game of the year. ' ' '